I got me a fine Saito FA-115
Special Thanks to Davezagwyn for patiently selling this beauty to me.

These have been discontinued but i have been fond of them since they use the same size case as the FA-91S

1.25 inch bore
.94 stroke

Geez! This is my largest thumper so far. When i looked in the glow plug hole it seemed like the piston went on for ages. I may take the head off to check out that fat piston & see if it has any run time

I put some oil thru the glow plug hole.
-need to add oil to Rockers
-need to add oil down guide rod tubes for Cam

It looks low time if not new... but i need to pull the Head off to tell. I do not smell fuel. Too hard to judge piston usage thru glow plug hole.

I picked up a Spektrum SPM4648 'FPV Racing Serial Reciever' for my Oxy3 Qube helicopter.
It looks to basically be a 'Satellite Rx' as some pilots call them. It fits into my Ikon V1 right out the package.

It is full range if your Rx or FBL is full range, afaik.

The SPM4648 has 11ms frame rate, auto bind, and a Diversity antennae. The antennae wires can be replaced if ripped. (I believe my DX6i has a 22ms frame rate but am planning on getting a DX8 later which would connect to the faster 11ms rate)

This is designed for racing quads using carbon fiber frames. The antennaes recieve signal near the end of thier length so can be set away from carbon fiber frames for reliability. Sweet!

I was planning to get a normal Sat Rx (serial reciever) but this is all the LHS had--and i got it free as a gift from my dad. If the antenaes sticking out are a problem, i could save it for my Logo 480 project later

I think it will work, but remember it has auto bind. If one powers the model or Rx on before thier radio, it goes into bind mode. I do not think this will be a problem for seasoned pilots.

I hope to get my Oxy3 Qube flying next month.

I am also rebuilding my Saito FA-72 4-stroke and should have it ready to run soon. I would have finished it last night but didn't want to awake the family while banging the main bearing into its case

I wanted a larger Heli to fly at the field. Now, this Logo 480 is an on-hold project until i get more stick time flying my Blade Trio 180 CFX & Lynx Oxy3 Qube...

The Logo 480 needs an FBL, battery, 2 satellite Rx's, & of course setup. I also plan to upgrade my radio. Thinking about a DX8 or V-Control radio. Either Icon2 or V-Bar fbl.
The DX8 would be best for all my rc models while the V-control radio would make an exceptional heli control system

This Logo 480 is the new Ferrari of my rc model fleet. It is fully 3D yet i read it can handle fairly low head speeds. My other 'Ferarri' is my Oxy3 Qube (that just needs a Sat Rx)

I really like the Heli-X Demo, am thinking of buying it. It has my Logo 480 and Oxy3 Qube in it. May also have the 180 CFX too, which is cool. Heli-X additionally features Align & Logo 550 helis (i may step up to a 550 later).
I do like Realflight 8 HH Edition, but it is 2x to 3x the price! I believe Heli-X is around $55. Realflight 8 HH has some newer stuff and more planes... but i like Heli-X's vast assortment of popular Helis

The funny thing, both Heli-X and Logo are German makes & my Logo 480 came with an upgraded Lynx Swash

So i mailed an item to Alaska in an envelope. It must have gotten ripped open during USPS handling and sorting. So it has been lost or stolen by USPS (it sounded like lost).

My customer only got the envelope... nothing in it. Wow

I have never had a problem with envelopes. In hindsight a box may have been better (especially going long distances) because the item(s) was not flat like paper.

Now i am waiting on PayPal so i can refund the customer's money. It may take a few days to even refund the money because i cannot use my bank card for refunds via Paypal and must take another step. Gr8 m8....

Well, i am thankful my customer has been cool about this so far. I really have never had any problems with USPS but this incident and...
...recently i had an order incoming (to me) via USPS that was 4 days late! It finally arrived today--but i was sure worried after seeing it travel backwards between nearby distribution centers ...and today hearing about my Alaska shipping incident.

It looks like Ground shipping does not get the same treatment as Priority, far as i can tell. Both of these were Ground or basic shipments

Usually... i use blocks of wood to set case upon. Then a ratchet extension and rubber mallet to knock bearings out (after applying heat and oil)

Well, the rubber mallet was not enough. Lots of heat and oil, but the front bearing was stuck!
So I switched to a small hammer instead of rubber mallet, to strike the ratchet extension. I was careful too, no need to crack the aluminum case with excessive hammer blows... and it worked! Easy peazy

I finally cleaned my FA-72A '#2'
tonight

The FA-72A has a new metal back plate, pretty sure i have proper metal screws to mount the carb...
Only thing missing is set of bearings and a the 'A' version cam case gasket. The gasket set i ordered is for the 'B' (i can make a gasket)

The cherry, Saito's gasket set came with new head-intake O-ring!
This is great, will likely eliminate any head-intake leaks i was having. The intake leaks were due to excessive vibration caused by (the original) plastic backplate, methinks.

I have a nice brass pipe, that Gary Cee made me, to test on video. So i am eager to get this engine going. I have run this FA-72 with his pipe before it lost compression--and it sounded great!

Balsa Plane:
I own a GP Easy Sport 40 ARF (MKI) model airplane. It is my entry into balsa/ glow flying. I have decided to go with my FA-56 or FA-72. Either would fly it well

I have a few UMX foam model airplanes i really like. Being fragile to handle, they could use a few touch-ups. I am in the spirit of flying (and could use something to get my mind off of Holiday Stress) so i decided to have a look at them

1) UMX Carbon Cub SS: This is like my old UM Sport Cub S on steriods. Popular, expensive, sought after, and discontinued.
It has a BL motor, runs on 2S LiPo, and has a few 'large model features' such as Flaps and lights. It is very stable in zero wind and crawls along like magic then.
It does have good speed for a little Cub and can handle very light wind. But it likes to cruise at medium power on calm days.

Stock wheels had been set aside for larger DuBro lightweight wheels. They ended up being too thin with too large a hole--they were sloppy on this model.
So, i replaced the DuBro's with stock. Before replacement, i colored the stock rims black. Now they match the plane better

I also replaced the gray plastic 'LG side plates.' I had broke them off in a hard crash after msjudging windy loops. I had to use clear tape to hold them on (but do not mind). It looks complete now, & i won't notice the tape during flight.
There is a little chunk missing from atop the cowl, but coming down on the LG obviously helped prevent other obvious damage.

This plane has been crashed again into my wife. It looks rather nice despite having survived a few wrecks.
I have seen gnarly results from other pilots... one pilot nearly totaled his (plane not...Continue Reading

First run, very rich break in run, of my nib 40A. This is a short clip of the run. The day's temperature was likely around 72F, iirc.

Engine was running quite cool. I did run it a bit harder near end of tank.
With Hi-Speed at about ~5.5 turns out, and my limiting throttle teavel, it likely never went past 7k rpm per instryction manual.

i bought this engine off E-bay a while back. Finally made a mount for it

This is a nice engine. It is unbelievably small for the power it makes:
-Running Xoar 11x6 wood prop
-10% Powermaster
-New OS F plug (came with Saito SS)
-Engine is make 'C' btw

I got the go-ahead from the family to get a street bike. I explained that if i feel the road is too dangerous i may trade it for a dirtbike

I have decided my SV650 dream is a bit too expensive, heavy, & fancy for my wallet. If i win the lottery however... to me the SV650 is motorcycle art!

2016 Honda CB500F (click pic for HD)

But I can't afford anything 'artistic.' The Honda CB500F or Yamaha SR400 are the best i can do. Honestly, i think they look sweet These are $6000 bikes not including fees.

$6000 bikes are supposed to be utilitarian, according to the US Motorcycle bible. That is considered cheap to modern motorcyclists. For me, it's about all i'd ever like to spend. The used market affords more promise, but i am hoping to get a new bike

(Every motorcycle magazine has dug up a piece of this 'bible.' And I'm pretty sure it was written by men....wanting to sell $18,000 VMAXes and mid-life crisis supersport bikes)

Images

I am thinking about getting me a bike after all these years. The ol' Suzuki SV650 has been a favorite since i was younger... it' be the top of the list. Right above the Yamaha SR400.

While i was younger i was really into motorcycles, as a magazine reader i mean. I dreamt of getting a dirt bike. I realized i like 4-stroke engines. Mostly singles (thumpers) and v-twins.
(this is why i enjoy Saito model 4-strokes. In a sense, they are like mini motorcycle engines)

Then i 'got into' road bikes and wanted a 250cc Virago 250 (V-Star 250 now) or something small to begin riding. I took the MSF Ridercourse basic training in my area & earned a USA motorcycle license.
I must've had 6 hours of sleep those two days--i was so excited to be on a bike By then i wanted a Suzuki Intruder 800

So I got the Motorcycle License but never got a bike!... Mostly because riding on roads seems dangerous (cell phones). But also because they're a bit more expensive to get into than my other hobbies ...aaaaaand a new car was practical.

I have had my motorcycle license for ~10 years now. I figure that once i get my ducks in a row, i could get a used bike or something fairly affordable.

I was surprised to find a surge in smaller bikes. 300-400cc bikes like the beautiful Yamaha SR400 thumper, rad KTM RC390 (single cylinder!), & Kawasaki Ninja 400R seem practical to me. I am not a big guy.
I tend to like affordable Standard bikes. Not too fancy or expensive. Often times you sit upwards in...Continue Reading

I have thought that 4 control surfaces seemed incomplete compared to birds' wings. Then i realize that passenger jets have several wing surfaces to add or kill lift....... and reverse thrust. Humph.
Then i watched a jet fighter with those forward flaps (automatic control) to aid slow flight. Don't forget the air brakes

Dang! i was born too late

I imagine morphing drones are the future for our military, but i'd rather keep that hush hush

Why dont we modelers get variable pitch propeller systems like Helicopters? Full-size planes have them so i wonder if the Large Scale guys would be interested (?)

I do not think it would be too hard to slap a Heli, with rear of boom facing up, to the front of a plane and call it a day. Heck, who said God meant everything to be simple? He went as small as the atom, afterall

FAA literally told us to be quiet, they do not have time for American Citizen modelers(!) We are not getting proper representation!
NOW is the time to act. We need to fight this!

We have the RIGHT to the pursuit of happiness which means enjoying the air above our own heads.
We need to stand up NOW and tell these greedy corporations and FAA that we have the RIGHT to our own space--and MORESO than any of them.

I am quite sure there are more than 220,000 modelers and drone flyers. I am talking a cool million American citizens own models or drones, easy.

Btw, your feedom is often taken away from you in the name of 'security.' As if us modelers are unable to practice safety...i call bull poo!

If anything, several commercial drones flying around in MY personal space is a threat to my peace and security. How is that safer than me flying my precious model?

These people are being hypocritical. It is so easy to turn it all back on them that they told our 1 model guy to be quiet while excluding the AMA. Wow... evil.

We have fought through war after war for our freedom. Dont let these greedy ignorant corporations take it away.
A fellow modeler surely cares more about your privacy than some corporation or 3-letter organization.

We need to form an RC Modeler Superpower to represent us legally and vocally, as well as voice our rights.

Btw, where was the AMA!???? AMA, everyone, time to STAND UP for ourselves! Do NOT let them take Section 336! Thanks... and...

At the very least we should ALL be able to fly without civilians being taxed. Duh.

I took another look at my Saito FA-72A (Plastic Backplate Version) after setting it aside in lazy frustration months ago...

The plastic backplate seemed to have led to an intake air leak due to the vibration it allows. There is extra space between the head-intake-washer and intake pipe.
A metal .72 or .82 backplate will provide proper use.

However, i could experiment with adding extra washers to fill the play.

I also read the plastic backplate had deformed on another modeler's .72 causing the crank to break!
Saito later switched to a metal back plate. It is a shame, most Saitos will last a lifetime with minimal maintenance cost.

Additionally, i should consider ordering a backup set of carb seals and intake o-rings for each size Saito engine i keep.
Gaskets can be made with paper or MotoSeal. I think heat-shrink tubing can be used to seal rod tubes.

I am considering selling the 72. Yet with a little TLC it will make a great engine. Only .72 but makes 1.2hp and sounds great doing it.

I am thinking Saito should make a new Inline V-Twin similar to thier FA-100Ti.

Only, i think it should be based on the wonderful FA-62B. So it will be an FA-124Ti or FA-125Ti depending on the combined displacement. Being 'inline' it may fit in some warbirds such as a Spitfire or Mustang.

I would probably put one on a stick plane and be good to go

I just got through running my used FA-62A some more. It seems awesome! Great power and sound in a small package

I would've had it tuned days ago but i keep missing the Sunlight for my tachometer. I just about finished tuning it today ...but Sun = gone

It seems to have more power than my FA-56 yet i have not checked valves on the .56. I also did not set my .56 to peak, rather 9400rpm. I read it can spin a 13x4 to 10,500 but i would lower it.

Pretty sure the .62 was doing 10,100 rpm easily with the Xoar 13x4. I'll see for sure when i find some Sun.

If the .62 continues to show promise, my current 3 favorite Saito engines (that i own) are:
FA-40A (have yet to run but it looks like a little gem)
FA-62 (1hp engine yet manages to weigh less than the classic .50 that i love)
FA-91S (have yet to run mine but she is a heck of a looker)

May i also add i enjoy the older style mufflers and pipes.
The newer mufflers seem to be made very well but look a bit odd. The older long mufflers look like a real 4-stroke muffler. The one-piece black mufflers look classy to me. I also do enjoy pipes

I think the FA-120R3 is based off the FA-40A. It is definitely on My List

It looks impressive! I am not in a hurry to fly it. The blades seem balanced, but i need to thoroughly inspect/test it.

It looks good so far:
-Motor gear mesh needs adjustment. Too tight. No biggie.
-There is a small hairline crack on underside of Canopy. Not a big deal.

-The servos look good so far... I need to inspect bottom area. I may need to mod the inside to prevent possible electrical shorts (that i read about).
The early versions had no short protection from bottom Aluminum casing.

-I need one Satellite antenna. Maybe $35 max

Going to run 3S. Not sure about the Head Speed setup on this heli yet. The Ikon looks to use a popular type of PC cable. I should have one. The PC program is free for download.
I am so glad the Ikon does not use an annoying proprietary ($$) connector.

-i may replace the motor with a Lynx EOX 2216 4100kv if this one gives me any issues.
The included 3100kv motor was [noted to be] from a Walker V450D2

The Oxy came with some extra parts i feel blessed. This Oxy 3 is easily the Ferarri of my RC Hangar...

Images

I have become highly interested in the Lynx Oxy line of small helicopters. They look to be made with surprisingly high quality for thier size.

Lynx has a history of providing quality replacement & upgrade parts for other companies' helis. They seem to know what they are doing with thier small Oxy Heli line...

Thier smallest Heli is the Oxy2 at 190mm to 215mm. A little larger than a Blade 180 CFX. Belt Tail. Looks more durable than a TT

Thier first Heli, the Oxy3, is 255mm. A little larger than a Blade 250 CFX (245mm stock). Belt Tail.
It sports a 3-blade conversion (called Qube) with 255mm main blades and a tri-blade tail rotor conversion.
Additionally it has a 280mm 2-blade stretch conversion.

I love the look of the Oxy 3 Tareq with it's dreamy orange-anodized aluminum parts. It reminds me of the beautiful Ofna Titan nitro monster truck i wanted, circa 2003.
That truck was orange too and had nice metal gears in its drive train...

Oxy's largest heli is the new Oxy 4 at 325mm. Same blade size as a Blade 330X or 450X . It also sports a stretch conversion to 360mm.

TheOxy helis are reported to be built with high quality materials and last long before needing replacement parts.
Afaik, Oxy stands behind thier products and improves anything known to fail prematurely.

Mainstream Media is constantly attacking us civilians for owning drones.

Because of this, i have refrained from FPV.

My character, the way i am, i do not like to bother my neighbors and respect thier privacy.
The worst i do is troll people on YouTube.. but whats funny is i actually make friends doing it. I try to keep things cool.

However--i have noticed that Civilians have been under attack with the continuing surge of drone popularity. I understand this to a point, but the media has banded together to make everyone with a drone look bad. They have even used CGI effects and legit FAKE news stories, over and over, to make civvy drones look bad.

There will always be a few outlaws in every arena. That is why breaking the law leads to jail and fines! But this is not a reason to punish the entire civilian population. Brainwash the uninformed into believing good civilians with drones, model planes, model helicopters, or guns are suddenly the bad guys--then use this to try to pass laws to...

This is complete hypocracy and is a violation of civilians rights to happiness adding to the slow roll towards financial slavery (taxes) and physical slavery (no way to fight back when government or corps go to far).